Tug-O-War Exercise Machine

ABSTRACT

The invention is an exercise machine that is based on the principles of the game of Tug-of-war. It has a base with a sitting means with a plurality of ropes attached to a resistance means. The resistance means is adjustable to increase or decrease the amount of resistance on the rope. The base will have foot rests allowing the user of the device good footing while pulling on the rope.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an exercise machine and more particularly anexercise machine that uses the principals of the Tug-of-war game.

1. Background

Tug-of-war is a game that can exercise all of the major muscles andmuscle groups as well as provide a good cardiovascular workout.

The conventional tug-of-war game requires only a length of rope, arelatively even number of players and a large playing area. The rope islaid out such that its midpoint is centered over an identifiable finishline or object, leaving equal lengths or portions of rope on either sideof the finish line. Contestants line up along the rope on each side ofthe finish line grasping the rope with its midpoint still centered. Whenthe signal to begin the game is sounded, each side attempts to pull theother side over the finish side; when that is accomplished, the game iswon, and over.

The problem with using Tug-of-war as an exercise is that you need anumber of people to be an each team as well as a large playing field. Atug-of-war game can last from as short as 10 seconds to hours dependingon the teams competing. This makes it hard to judge the length ofexercise.

2. Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,542 by Ball, et al. and issued on Dec. 14, 2004, isfor a rowing weight training machine. U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,968 byGalbraith, et al. and issued on Nov. 16, 2004, is for an exercisemachine for performing rowing-type and other exercises. U.S. Pat. No.6,244,988 by Delman and issued on Jun. 12, 2001, is for an interactiveexercise system and attachment module for same. It discloses an improvedinteractive exercise system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,961 by Davis and issuedon Dec. 1, 1998, is for an exercise machine. It discloses an adjustableresistance exercise machine including a pulley system and a cableconnecting a handle to a weight. U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,600 by Pape andissued on Jul. 14, 1998, is for a rowing simulator. U.S. Pat. No.5,674,159 by Davidson and issued on Oct. 7, 1997, is for an exercisemachine for one or two persons incorporating a spinning body. U.S. Pat.No. 5,620,402 by Simonson and issued on Apr. 15, 1997, is for a reardeltoid and rowing exercise machine and method of exercising.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,893 by Petersen, et al. and issued on Aug. 6, 1996,is for an exercise machine which converts reciprocating motion tounidirectional rotational motion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,028 by Sparks, IIIand issued on Apr. 30, 1996, discloses a flywheel exerciser. U.S. Pat.No. 5,465,428 by Earl and issued on Nov. 14, 1995, is for an exercisedevice of adjustable resistance for flexing of muscles of the legs andtorso. U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,107 by Jones and issued on Apr. 19, 1994, isfor a rowing exercise machine. U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,574 by Johnson, Jr.and issued on Dec. 31, 1991, is for a rope climbing exercise apparatus.U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,929 by Peterson, et al. and issued on Dec. 17, 1991,is for a dual resistance exercise rowing machine. U.S. Pat. No.4,635,933 by Schnell and issued on Jan. 13, 1987, discloses a muscletoning, strengthening or exercising machine. U.S. patent application20050164849 by Saikawa and published on Jul. 28, 2005, discloses anexercise machine. U.S. patent application 20040192509 by Tang andpublished on Sep. 30, 2004, is for a laptop rope pulling exerciser. Itdiscloses a laptop rope pulling exerciser that is composed of a base, anoperating device, and a resistance device.

None of these exercise machines are based on Tug-of-war.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,043 by Haseltine, et al. and issued on Sep. 16,2003, is for a virtual tug of war. It discloses a novel form ofentertainment in which participants compete in a “tug of war” againstopponents who are remotely located, stored in electronic form in memory,or are virtual opponents graphically generated in real-time by acomputer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,426 by Gill and issued on Jun. 23, 1998, is for atwo person tug of war. It discloses a two person tug of war apparatusthat comprises a frame having a first hand grip and a second hand grip.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,511 by Barringer and issued on Feb. 25, 1986, is fora tug-of-war game. It discloses an invention that comprises a tug-of-wargame having a drum rotatably mounted on a stationary frame, with anelongated rope wrapped about the drum with free ends extended toopposite sides of the drum, with pull on one free end rotating the drumin one direction and pull on the other free end rotating the drum inanother direction, and with a scoreboard visibly responsive to whichdirection the drum is being rotated.

There exists a need for a tug-of-war exercise machine.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The current invention is an exercise machine that is based on theprinciples of the game of Tug-of-war. It has a base with a sitting meanswith a rope attached to a resistance means. The resistance means isadjustable to increase or decrease the amount of resistance on the rope.The base will have foot rests allowing the user of the device goodfooting while pulling on the rope.

The object of the invention is an exercise machine based on theprinciples of Tug-of-war which exercises and builds up the major musclegroups while providing a good cardiovascular workout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred formof this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the exercise machine;

FIG. 2 shows the top view of the exercise machine;

FIG. 3 shows the bottom view of the exercise machine;

FIG. 4 shows the front of the exercise machine;

FIG. 5 shows the back of the exercise machine;

FIG. 6 shows the right side of the exercise machine; and

FIG. 7 shows the front left side of the exercise machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of an exercise machine is demonstrative innature and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention or itsapplication of uses.

There are a number of significant design features and improvementsincorporated within the invention.

The current invention is an exercise machine that is based on theprinciples of the game of Tug-of-war. It has a base with a sitting meanswith a fibre rope spliced into a single continuous length or loopattached to a resistance means. The resistance means is adjustable toincrease or decrease the amount of resistance on the rope. The base willhave foot rests allowing the user of the device good footing whilepulling on the rope.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the exercise machine 1 has a base 10, apulling means, a plurality of resistance means 20 and a seat 30. FIG. 1shows a front perspective view of the exercise machine. FIG. 2 shows thetop view of the exercise machine. FIG. 3 shows the bottom of theexercise machine. FIG. 4 shows the front of the exercise machine. FIG. 5shows the back of the exercise machine. FIG. 6 shows the right side ofthe exercise machine. FIG. 7 shows the front left side of the exercisemachine.

The base 10 consists of the resistance platform 15, the seat bar 25 andthe seat bar support beam 17.

The seat bar 25 connects the seat bar support beam 17 with theresistance platform 15. The seat bar 25 is perpendicular to the seat barsupport beam 17 and is connected to it by seat bar connectors 18. Theseseat bar connectors 18 give the seat bar 25 height so that it is anoptimal height for a work out and so that the seat bar 25 is level withthe resistance platform 15.

The seat bar 25 is connected to the top of the resistance platform 15and runs through the center of the resistance platform 15.

The resistance platform 15 is rectangular in shape in the preferredembodiment. The resistance frame 35 is attached to the top of and isperpendicular to the resistance platform 15. The resistance platform 15holds the resistance means and the pulling means and consists of boxframes.

The exercise machine 1 has a plurality of adjustable legs 40. These legsare attached to the bottom of the resistance platform 15 and the seatbar support beam 17. The adjustable legs 40 are screw type legs such asbolts which screw into the body 10 with each leg 40 being screwed in soit is the appropriate height so that the exercise machine 1 is levelwith the ground. This allows the leveling of the exercise machine 1 onan uneven surface. The legs 40 can have a soft felt or plastic cap onthe bottom so not to damage the floor that the exercise machine 1 restson.

The seat 30 rests on the top of the seat bar 25. The seat's 30 top is ina shape that a user of the exercise machine 1 can sit confirmable in andat the proper angle for pulling on the pulling means. On the bottom ofthe seat 30 there are two parallel extensions 31 which are at a distanceapart that is slightly wider than the width of the seat bar 25 andconnected at the bottom surrounding the seat bar 25 securing the seat 30to the seat bar 25.

On one of the parallel extensions is the seat attachment means 32 whichin the preferred embodiment is a handle with a cylinder bolt. The seatbar 25 has a plurality of seat position holes 26 which run through theseat bar 25. The seat attachment means run through one extension 31through one of the seat position holes 26 and through the otherextension 31. The user can adjust the seat 30 by moving it up and downthe seat bar 25 so it is the proper distance from the pulling means tomaximize their work out. While pulling on the rope 100, the user may fixthe seat to the seat bar using this mechanism, or alternatively canallow the seat 30 to move forward and rearward along the seat bar 25 inthe horizontal plane.

In the front of the resistance platform are two foot paddles 50. Thefoot paddles 50 are angled slightly away from the user with adjustablefoot straps to hold the user's feet on the foot paddles during thepulling motion.

The pulling means in the preferred embodiment is a rope 100 of at leasttwo inches diameter spliced into a single continuous length or loop. Therope 100 is of sufficient length to allow that part of the rope 100returning to the resistance axle 70 to hang free of tension. The userpulls on the rope while sitting in the seat 30 with their feet firmlyplanted in the foot paddles using a pulling motion like that intug-of-war. The user will pull on the rope 100 against the resistancemeans. As he does so, the free end of the rope loop then falls to thefloor, and is coiled back onto the resistance axle 70 by the turningmotion imparted to it by the user. The user can therefore pull on a ropethat is, in effect, indefinitely long.

The rope ends are guided by two circular rope guides 65 through whichthe rope ends pass through. The rope guides 65 are made of a flexiblematerial such as rubber or cloth. The rope guides 65 hold and guide therope 100 as it is being pulled by the user. The rope guides 65 are heldin place by the rope guide pole 66 which is connected to and runsperpendicular to the resistance platform.

The rope is wrapped around the resistance axle 70. The resistance axle70 provides the resistance 70 to the rope 100. The resistance axle 70 isheld up and runs through the platform frame 35 through an axis withineach frame of the resistance platform frame 35. The axis is a standardaxis which holds the resistance axle 70 to the frame while allowing itto turn with reduced friction.

In the preferred embodiment, there is a back rope guide 90 connected tothe back rope guide pole 95. The back rope guide 90 guides the rope endthat comes from the back of the resistance axle 70 to the front of theresistance platform 15. The rope end goes through the back rope guide 90and up to the rope guide 65. The back rope guide pole 95 is connected toand runs perpendicular to the resistance platform 15.

On one side of the resistance axle 70 is the resistance flywheel 80. Theresistance flywheel 80 provides the resistance through the resistanceaxle 70 to the rope 100 being pulled by the user.

A resistance applying means is used to apply resistance to the flywheel80. In the preferred embodiment, the resistance applying means is a setof rods 85, one on each side of the top of flywheel 80. These rods 85have fraction pads 86 that touch and apply friction to the flywheel 80which produces the resistance. The rods 85 are attached to a tensionadjustment means. The tension adjustment means can be a turn knob 105which when turned tighter would wind two wires 97 that are each attachedto one of the rods 85 bringing them closer together thereby increasingthe friction on the flywheel 80 which will increase the resistance. Whenthe knob is turned looser the rods 80 would spread apart reducing thefriction and reducing the resistance. The turn knob 105 would runthrough the top of the frame.

In the preferred embodiment, the resistance platform 15, frame 35 andthe seat bar 25 would be made of a strong durable material such asaluminum or steel.

To use the exercise machine, the user would adjust the resistance towhat they wanted for a good workout. The user would adjust the seat fortheir body (or allow the seat to move along the seat bar, if preferred),sit in the seat 30, and put their feet in the feet paddles. They wouldthen grip the rope 100 and pull on it using a tug-of-war pulling motionwhile planting their feet firmly in the foot paddles 50. They would dothis until they get the proper muscle and cardiovascular workout thatthey were looking to get.

The exercise machine 1 could also be used as a training device for atug-of-war sportsman.

In the preferred embodiment, a single rope 100 is used but a pluralityof ropes could be used in an alternative embodiment.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions arepossible. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims shouldnot be limited to the description of the preferred versions containedherein.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the abovedescription, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assemblyand use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. An exercise machine comprising: a base 10 having a pulling meansattached to a resistance means and a seat.
 2. An exercise machine as inclaim 1 further comprising said base having a resistance platform, aseat bar and a seat bar support.
 3. An exercise machine as in claim 1further comprising said exercise machine being used to train fortug-of-war.
 4. An exercise machine as in claim 1 further comprisinghaving said seat be adjustable.
 5. An exercise machine as in claim 1further comprising having said pulling means be a rope.
 6. An exercisemachine as in claim 1 further comprising said base having saidresistance means being adjustable.
 7. An exercise machine as in claim 1further comprising having foot paddles connect to said base.
 8. Anexercise machine as in claim 1 further comprising having a plurality oflegs.
 9. An exercise machine as in claim 1 further comprising saidresistance means being a flywheel attached to an axle.
 10. An exercisemachine as in claim 9 further comprising said resistance means includesrods on each side of said flywheel applying a resistance to saidflywheel.
 11. An exercise machine as in claim 10 further comprising saidrods are attached to a resistance adjustment control means.
 12. Anexercise machine as in claim 11 further comprising said resistanceadjustment control means is a turn knob.
 13. An exercise machine as inclaim 12 further comprising said turn knob is turned one way to increasethe resistance and the other way to decrease resistance.
 15. An exercisemachine as in claim 1 further comprising having said pulling means be arope and said base having a plurality of rope guides attached to saidbase.
 16. An exercise machine as in claim 1 further comprising said basehaving a seat bar which is connected to a seat bar support beam by seatbar connectors.
 17. An exercise machine comprising: a base 10 having arope attached to a resistance means and a seat, where said base has aresistance platform, a seat bar and a seat bar support, where said seatis adjustable, where said resistance means is adjustable, where footpaddles are connected to said base where said resistance means is aflywheel attached to an axle.
 18. An exercise machine as in claim 9further comprising said resistance means includes rods on each side ofsaid flywheel applying a resistance to said flywheel.
 19. An exercisemachine as in claim 10 further comprising said rods are attached to aresistance adjustment control means.
 20. An exercise machine as in claim1 further comprising having said pulling means be a rope and said basehaving a plurality of rope guides attached to said base.